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Lena was comfortably lounging on her balcony, sipping a glass of wine, deep in thought.
She was contemplating the last couple of weeks, feeling more at ease than she ever thought was possible. Her mind kept wandering back to the same day: Alex and Kelly’s wedding day. She was smiling fondly into the starlit night of National City as she remembered how that day was truly the beginning of the rest of her life.
Not only because she was asked to be Esme’s godmother – something she would have never even dare to dream of – but because she was truly happy and content with her life. She was finally at peace with who she was, she accepted her heritage from birthmother as well as from the Luthors and she got closure with Lillian.
A knock on the door broke her out of her thoughts and she got up with another, wider smile on her face. Frank was well instructed to only allow a handful of people to come directly to her door, and she couldn’t help feel loved knowing that there whoever was on the other side came here just for her.
She opened the door to a grinning Kelly, gingerly holding a bottle of wine.
- “Tonight is Danvers sister night.” - she announced while Lena took a step back to let her in.
- “I happen to know that.” – winked Lena. – “I thought they would convince you to join them.”
- “Kara tried, but they haven’t had a proper night since the wedding, I figured they could probably use a night to process Kara’s coming out to the world as Kara Zor-El Danvers between themselves. Plus we can just hold our own “Better halves of the Danvers sisters’ night”, don’t you think?” – winked Kelly while she pushed past Lena into the kitchen. – “Want a glass form mine, or wanna stick to yours?” – she gestured to Lena’s empty glass, while she rummaged through Lena’s cupboard for a glass of her own, ignoring Lena’s confused but blushing face.
Lena just placed her glass next to the unopened rosé Kelly brought after just a split second of hesitation, while her heart swell at seeing the woman so comfortable in her kitchen.
- “I would hardly call myself Kara’s better half.” – she said. – “but you are definitely Alex’s.”
- "Oh honey, you couldn’t be more wrong.” – laughed Kelly, while picking up the glasses and heading for the balcony. – “I mean didn’t you practically get her to be herself in front of the entire world?”
Lena blushed furiously, happy that Kelly was fumbling with the blanket on the chair instead of looking at her.
- “That was Cat Grant, I just supported whatever Kara wanted to do.” – she mumbled, but Kelly snorted immediately.
- “Oh Lena, Cat ordered Kara to figure her shit out. What you did on the wedding was much more than that. You supported her, yes, but you also made her see that there was not one good answer here; you helped her realise that she needed to come to terms with who she was, and allow herself to accept and own that person. You didn’t tell her to be a Danvers, or to choose being Supergirl. You encouraged her to be her own person. The person we all know as Kara Zor-El Danvers, the bubbly and happy alien girl with the brightest smile and bottomless stomach.”
Kelly smiled, glancing warmly at Lena.
- “You, darling, did, what Maggie did for Alex, and no matter what people say, that is freaking huge.” – Kelly concluded her little speech.
- “Did you just compare me to your wife’s ex fiancée?” – raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow Lena, grateful for the night for hiding her pink cheeks.
Kelly snorted again, crunching her nose up slightly.
- “I know, terrible, right? But honestly, I am grateful for her, even if she broke Alex’s heart. She made her the person I fell in love with, and she made her the person who accepts herself and that made it possible for me to find her, and fall in love with her. You know they parted amicably, and as much hurt Maggie caused, she also gave Alex so much else. Don’t get me wrong, I would probably be extremely out of my depth if she showed her dimples around here again, but from the distance, I can appreciate what she did.”
Lena grinned, nodding understandingly.
- “How do you know about the dimples?”
- “Winn.”
That explanation was plenty, and the two women shared a warm smile.
They sat there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, enjoying the mild evening air, listening to the sounds far below from the street.
- “I also wanted to hear how you were.” – said Kelly quietly. – “With all that.” – she clarified, but Lena already understood. As much as she pretended, she knew they never really left the Kara topic.
- “You mean all the articles?”
Ever since Kara’s famous Supergirl coming out interview aired with Cat Grant, all media outlets were trying to seize the momentum of the revelation, and they all tried to explain Kara and Lena’s years long public relationship in hindsight.
- “I certainly have some favourite ones.” -Kelly chuckled. – “Like the one that is convinced that you went all villain on the world, because Kara broke up with you.” – she grinned, subtly checking if referring to that time might sadden Lena, but she was glad to see the other woman simply hiding her face in her hands, shaking her head and laughing.
- “Ugh, my unofficial favourite is that I am a part of Lex, and was created when he and Superman first started to fight each other, and one of Lex’s weapons bounced off of Superman, and tore me apart from Lex.”
- “WHAT?! I haven’t read that one. Is that like a weird version of Eve being created out of Adam’s rib in Eden?” – asked Kelly dumbfounded.
- “That is my guess, yes.” – Lena answered nodding along.
- “I certainly applaud the imagination in that one.” – laughed Kelly. – “But I actually meant the one in the Daily Planet.”
Lena hummed, not really knowing how to answer that. Out of all people, Lois Lane, Superman’s wife had to go ahead, and publish a two piece article on the speculations of the real relationship between Lena and Kara.
- “A Super and a Luthor: Truth or Deception. How can I forget.” – she said finally.
- “I called Lois to yell at her actually.” – confessed Kelly.
- “You didn’t have to do that.” – answered Lena, touched by Kelly’s action nonetheless. – “How did she take it.”
- “Hahh, better than me.” – huffed Kelly. – “See, I called to tell her how unethical it was for her to write the piece. And to use Clark as a source to dive into how the two of you met, how Kara became a reporter inspired by you. She simply shared so many personal details that no reporter would ever know about you.” – Kelly was getting worked up, and Lena hated to admit just how warm and fuzzy she was feeling while her friend ranted on her behalf. – “Especially after insinuating that either one of you might have been using the other to get ahead, and speculating so well about how she was always the one reporting on you, how you were the one handing her the Pulitzer price, how she kept publicly defending you, while you were presented in other medias as just another Luthor, and a threat to everyone. That really blew my circuits and I actually hung up on her.”
- “Did you ever actually let her say her peace about it?” – Lena asked curiously, as if they were not discussing the most recent media scandal that was still causing ripples to the day on Lena and L-Corp as well as on the image of Kara and Supergirl.
- “I wish I didn’t. “ – Kelly admitted.
- “Why is that?”
- “She called me back after I hung up, and asked what I thought of the concluding speculations of the articles.”
Lena cocked an eyebrow, curious about Kelly’s opinion.
- “I didn’t know what to say. I mean her closing statement suggested that your story is either the greatest love story of our time, or the most deceiving and toxic relationship two highly influential people can have. You are very adamant regarding the first one,“ – Kelly grinned. – “and I know you both too well to buy into the second one.”
Lena nodded, and took a couple of sips of her wine, trying to avoid having to voice her take on the articles. To her surprise, Kelly let her be for a few minutes before breaking the silence.
- “Have you ever thought of it?”
- “What? Being in a toxic relationship. All the time!” – she chuckled darkly.
- “No, dummy. About you and Kara. As more than friends.” – clarified Kelly gently.
Lena was, once again, gratefully for the darkness to hide her burning cheeks.
- “Wouldn’t you have?” – she asked very quietly.
Kelly just nodded, reaching over and squeezing Lena’s hand briefly.
- “You never said anything though.”
Lena didn’t answer, just picked up both of their glasses and went to refill them, squeezing Kelly’s shoulder on the way off the balcony.
If she was honest with herself, she hadn’t really allowed herself to even realise how she really felt. Her own baggage and Kara’s secrecy together clouded her judgement for too long. But watching Kara break down at the wedding, and without Lena’s own baggage in the way, she could finally place herself in Kara’s shoes and understand the turmoil it must have been to balance two identities, and all the pressure it entailed. She could even relate, knowing how much energy it took for herself not to be consumed by her desire to do right by her mom, and not destroy everything that tied to her father. With her past finding closure, Lena spent the last few weeks replaying her relationship with Kara, and putting the details into perspective.
When she returned, Kelly smiled warmly, and brought up a much milder topic.
- “So, what are your thoughts on the fact that Brainy is getting some tech from the Legion to help him and Nia to have a kid?”
Lena sputtered and laughed into her wine, picturing a faded green toddler wreak havoc in the new DEO.
***
In the meantime, Alex and Kara were lounging on the couch in Kara’s apartment, after finishing five pizzas and a few boxes of pot stickers. Alex was nursing her second beer, and Kara was enjoying her glass of Aldebaran rum.
- “I’m proud of you, you know that?” – said Alex after a short, comfortable silence.
- “Thanks.”
- “How are you holding up with becoming just one person after so long?” – Alex asked cautiously.
Kara just smiled warmly at her sister. It hasn’t been easy, and she was grateful for the Super Friends to be by her side in all this. She even counted Cat Grant as one of her crew, even if the woman acted sometimes like Kara was still her assistant, and not her editor in chief.
- “Was it like this for you to come out?” – She asked jokingly.
- “I guess. Just less publicity.” – she grinned. – “And I got the girl in the end as a reward.” – she winked.
Kara smiled warmly. She admired Alex to be able to talk about Maggie like that. No animosity, just part of her past. She was almost jealous of how together her sister was, and she thanked Rao that Alex had found her peace with Kelly and Esme.
- “Right. Have you read the article contemplating whether I lay eggs, and that the only reason I didn’t eat Kal yet is because he is related to me, but if he wasn’t we would mate, and after laying my eggs, I would eat him?” – Kara asked with a very confused face.
- “Haha, yeah, Brainy sent it to Kelly, asking her some advice how to support you while these unexplainably idiotic articles were published.”
- “Awww, he is so sweet.” – Kara cooed. – “He did send me a box emoji once. I assume that was not Kelly’s advice.”
- “No, that is a Luthor original, actually.” – laughed Alex. – “But you have to ask her to explain, I am afraid.”
Kara nodded, making a mental note to ask Lena about it. She smiled to herself, thinking about how far her best friend has come, and how she seemed to be her own self lately.
- “Is it daydreaming time?” – mocked Alex, bringing Kara back to the moment.
- “Hm?”
- “Nothing. How is your sidekick, by the way?”
- “She is not my sidekick, Alex!” – exclaimed Kara.
- “Yeah, yeah. But how is she?” – pressed on Alex.
- “She is alright. More than alright, actually. She seems just happy, this whole press-issue is just not getting to her.”
- “I wouldn’t pegged Lena to be so cool about it.” – said Alex almost disbelieving.
- “I know, right? But she just walks through the paparazzi like they are asking about the weather. The other day she even stopped to ask about the twins one of the reporters has.” – Kara explained animatedly.
The truth was, Kara has only seen Lena that one time since the big reveal. Other than that they were only texting, with the exception of the game night the Super Friends organised the day before.
- “I wish I felt so at ease about all this as she is.” – mumbled Kara quietly.
- “What part is making it hard?” – asked Alex.
- “All those speculations about Lena and me. I can barely look her in the eye lately.” – confessed Kara.
- “Did any of them hit a nerve?” – asked Alex cautiously.
- “NO! Of course not! Alex, you know that.” – sputtered Kara nervously.
- “You know, you answered way to loud, way too fast and way too flustered for me to take you seriously right now.” – stated Alex with a small smile, finishing her beer, and getting up to get a new one.
Kara watched her get up from the couch with hot red face, not really sure how to avoid having to talk about Lena after this.
Alex took her time depositing her amity bottle, opening a new one and returning to the couch. She snuggled comfortably into the pillows, and arched an eyebrow at her sister, who took a sip of her rum instead.
- “Okay, I didn’t want to put you on the spot but out with it. Why are you so shy about Lena? You said she helped you come to the decision to spot hiding part of you and to come out as Kara or Supergirl or whatever.”
- “She did.”
- “So? Why are you holding back on her? She texted me the other day, just to make sure you were okay, and as much as I love the woman, I know that she would never write me if she could get her answers form you directly.”
- “I…” – Kara stammered. – “I am just working through some things.” – she finished awkwardly.
- “What things?”
Kara swirled her drink in her hand, knowing all too well, that she needed to talk to someone about it.
- “I said we talked on your wedding.” – she started after a long pause that Alex somehow managed to survive without pushing Kara to start talking.
- “Yes?”
- “I said something that I cannot get out of my head.” – Kara admitted.
- “Like what?”
- “I told her how afraid I was that if I show people my whole self, someone can get hurt, and that out of all my friend, she is the only one that really pushed me and challenged me to be who I am, and yet the one that accepted me without an expectation. I know she went off the rails once, but that was because of her own past and her own baggage. When we take that one glitch away, she was simply there, taking whatever I was willing to give, and I cant get it out of my head that it is exactly what I have always though I wanted.”
Alex just listened, nodding along and hoping, that if Kara said all these things out loud, the answer would come without any help form her part. Alex was convinced, with Kelly’s encouragement, that Kara needed to take this journey on her own, and find her own answers in order to be happy and content with herself.
- “Is that a bad thing?”
- “No, of course not. I just don’t know what it means.”
- “What do you think it means?” – challenged her Alex gently.
- “That she is one of a kind?” – Kara sked.
- “Are you asking?”
Kara shook her head a bit helplessly.
- “Maybe you need to figure out if that is a question or a statement, sis.” – Alex winked. – “I have to go, relieve the babysitter. But if you want to contemplate further on Lena’s place in all this, I am happy to lend an ear.”
Alex gathered her things, and kissed Kara’s forehead, before heading home to her little girl.
***
Lena was just putting away the wine glasses when she heard a soft knock on the now closed balcony door.
She smiled widely when she saw Kara in her normal clothe, but without her glasses waiting patiently on the other side.
- “Kara! What are you doing here?” – She asked as she opened the door.
The woman just stood there, seemingly overwhelmed.
- “Did something happen?” – Lena asked with a pinch of panic in her voice.
- “No. Everything is alright” – stated Kara quietly, still just standing there, taking Lena’s appearance in.
- “O… Okay.” – said Lena hesitantly.
She took a step back to return to the living room and allow Kara to come in and talk on her own time, but her hand got caught in a gentle hold around her wrist.
- “I…” – whispered Kara. – “You do challenge me to be the best version of myself.” – she said finally.
- “I am glad I do.” – answered Lena warmly, still unsure what was really happening.
- “And… You like both of me.” – Kara said with hesitation in her voice.
- “I think they are the same person.” – she offered, wondering why are they even talking about this when Kara came public with all of her identities a while ago.
- “Why?” – Kara asked, casting her eyes down.
Lena just watched her best friend stand there, looking tiny and vulnerable and no matter how little she understood from tonight’s appearance, she needed her to be okay, and happy, and content.
- “Because you are the best, kindest, most amazing person I know. Both your identities cared… cares about the things I value in this work. You care and you love with your whole heart, and you never ask for anything in return.”
- “What if I did?” – interjected Kara timidly.
- “Then I would do everything in my power to get you what you wanted.” – Lena answered without a beat.
Kara seemed to contemplate that for a second, her hand never leaving Lena’s wrist.
- “What if I wanted you?” – the Kryptonian whispered, and if Lena was not focusing on Kara from half a foot away, she would have missed it.
But she didn’t. So she took a deep breath and braced herself.
- “You already have me.” – she whispered, while thinking Here goes nothing.
She watched ask Kara’s eyes first went comically large, then pensive, and she had to hold back a chuckle when she saw realisation dawn on Kara’s face.
It took Kara a few more seconds before she could will her body to move, but when she gained control again, she took a hesitant step forward.
- “I do?” – she asked hesitantly.
Lena smiled gently as she took her own little step towards Kara, standing toe to toe in the door of her balcony.
She rested her forehead against Kara’s and took a few calming breaths.
- “You have had me for a long time now.” – she whispered while she closed her yes.
She didn’t dare to watch how all the emotions took display on Kara’s face before womaning up and leaning closer to Lena. The CEO only registered a soft puff of air on her face, before hesitant lips claimed her own gently.
No matter how much she hoped for this, Lena’s eyes popped open to confirm that it was indeed Kara, who was kissing her. She closed her eyes again shortly, smiling into the kiss and allowing her hands to cup Kara’s jaw softly before deepening the kiss.
***
- “You talked to Lena?” – asked Alex as Kelly climbed into bed.
- “I did. You?”
- “Kara went to see if Lena was still awake.” – reported Alex.
- “Do you think they will figure it out?”
- “I hope so. It is exhausting to watch them.” – Alex hummed.
- “Well, she is your sister…” – grinned Kelly.
- “And Lena is Esme’s godmother….” – said Alex unsure if it was any kind of argument at all.
Alex’s phone chimed, and she sleepily checked the screen, straightening up in bed immediately.
“If I had some news, I would not be stealing your thunder any more, would I?”
Stood Kara’s text. Alex turned the phone to Kelly, smiling hopefully.
- “Maybe they already did figure it out.”